AlphaTauri dispels rumors of team's sale by Red Bull

©AlphaTauri

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AlphaTauri team boss Franz Tost has denied that the Faenza-based outfit could be sold by Red Bull, the Austrian insisting that his team retains the full support of its parent company.

Last weekend, German website Auto Motor und Sport reported that Red Bull's new executives who have succeeded the late Dietrich Mateschitz at the helm of the company were pondering either a relocation of AlphaTauri to the UK or an outright sale of the team.

Red Bull motorsport boss Helmut Marko acknowledged that AlphaTauri was under scrutiny by Red Bull's top brass due to the team's poor campaign in 2022.

Read also: De Vries gave 'wake-up call' to AlphaTauri engineers – Tost

A report commissioned by Oliver Mintzlaff, the company's recently appointed CEO of Corporate Projects and Investments, on Red Bull's marketing investments allegedly shed a dim light on AlphaTauri and on the team's marketing value.

But on Wednesday, AlphaTauri released a statement in which Tost said that rumors of his team being sold by Red Bull were "without foundation".

"I had some very good meetings with Oliver Mintzlaff, who confirmed that the shareholders will not sell Scuderia AlphaTauri, and that Red Bull will continue supporting the team in the future," Tost stated.

"All these rumours have no foundation, and the team has to remain focused for the start of the season to perform better than last year."

While a sale option is off the table, AlphaTauri could still be required to transfer its activities to the UK.

Such a move would allow for more synergies with Red Bull Racing which would automatically lower the costs of operating AlphaTauri.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.